Hellfire Club (1720s)
Founded in 1718, the Hellfire Club (also known as the Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe) existed to push the boundaries of proper society and make fun of the religious beliefs and social rules of the time. The motto of the group was Fais ce que tu voudras, or “Do what thou wilt.”
Members dressed in mock monk costumes, would have relations with willing female guests of members who dressed in mock nun costumes, and feast on such delicacies as Holy Ghost Pie and Devil’s Loin. At one point, members kept a baboon dressed as a devil to entertain its guests. Political and public figures could find their reputations and careers destroyed by mere rumors of Hellfire Club membership.
